Synthesis and Electronic Structure of a Terminal Alkylborylene Complex

Without π stabilization: Phosphine-induced cleavage of a dinuclear precursor yielded the first terminal alkylborylene complex. Experimental and computational data suggest a strong MnB interaction, thus compensating the lack of π stabilization provided by the B-bound alkyl group and accounting for the thermal stability of the title compound and its propensity to undergo controlled derivatization.